Most people remember Michael Jordan for his high-flying dunks or his game-winning shots. I was recently reminded of his ability to pass the ball while watching the 1989 documentary “Michael Jordan: Come Fly With Me.” In basketball terms, a pass that sets up a teammate to score is called an assist. In one game, Jordan had 17 assists, meaning he passed the ball for 34 points! Believe me when I tell you that his passes were as spectacular as his shots—or watch for yourself.
Acting, like basketball, is a team sport. An “assist” is anything an actor can do to enhance what their scene partner is doing. Most actors learn some variation of Stanislavsky’s system, which has the actor identify the character’s objectives and then fight for them at all costs. I’ve heard people liken this to a chess or boxing match. The drama is obvious in those solo sports, but in those games, the other person is your opponent and the metaphor may overlook an essential component of great acting: collaboration.
Understanding that each moment in a scene must be born of the moment before, you can collaborate by behaving in ways that anticipate what your scene partner must do next. If his line is “et
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